On Wednesday, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) held its first public hearing following its inquiry, Protecting the Arctic: The Government’s response.
Last year, the EAC recommended that a moratorium on Arctic drilling should occur; however, the Government has rejected this call, arguing that existing efforts to protect the Arctic environment are “more likely to be effective”. The Government also argues that countries in whose national jurisdictions these activities are taking place are the ones who should be setting the limits of financial liability for gas and oil operations.
Alongside Ruth Davis (Chief Policy Advisor, Greenpeace) and Rod Downie (Polar Policy and Programme Manager, WWF), E3G’s Liz Gallagher gave her perspective on this response, as well as reactions to last year’s developments in Shell’s Arctic drilling campaign and the grounding of the Kulluk drilling rig.
The event took place on Wednesday 23 January at 2.15pm. It is available to view online at Parliament TV.
